Facing the Inevitable (Alaric)

[alariclarsstouner]

Lars just laughed heartily when Prue obviously did not believe him. He then rose up from his seat and looked at her intently. “That’s what I really like about you: still being humble despite being granted such God-given beauty. It’s a shame that you don’t realize it yourself sooner,” he then said to her. He did not really know why that last sentence rolled off his tongue but he knew that he really meant it. “Oh I think I would have to agree about Amelie in a totally different level but I guess it doesn’t make any difference. You are both absolutely beautiful in my eyes,” he then added, smiling at her once more.

He just smiled shyly as Prue told him that he helped her more than she helped him. “What are you talking about? You helped me a lot too. You were the one who actually helped me to break out of my reclusiveness and showed me that the world is a much better place. You are helping me come in terms with the death prophecy that my mother said to me,” he then said, recounting the moments when they were together. Still, he could feel a knot rise up on his chest when he then thought about her turning him down but he managed to push it out of his mind. After all, there are more important things to worry about. He then nodded when she told him that she wouldn’t need the potion now. “I guess your visions are catching up on you now isn’t it?” was all he said in reply

Lars just could not fathom what was on Prue’s mind on that exact moment. All he knew was that she was definitely hiding something from him and he just didn’t know what. He silently wished that he would just become a legilimens, so that he would be able to see what was on her mind easily. However, studying her facial expression was enough for him to realize that she might tell him what it would be. He was about to open his mouth to affirm what she had just said when he saw a stray owl drop a letter on her head. He merely looked at her while she read the letter, his curiosity piqued once again. Surely, this is going to be a really long night for both of them. He then reached his hand when Prue passed the letter to him and the moment he touched the envelope, he felt an electric shock coursing through his body, and visions of a man laughing hysterically while writing the letter and tying it on the owl danced on his eyes. Moments later, the vision was gone and he was already on the floor, panting.

[Prudence Campbell]

There was something in the way he delivered his words that made her think twice. He seemed so convinced at what he was saying and that alone made Prudence reconsider what he was saying. His last sentence in particular got her thinking. Maybe he was right. Maybe she really was not realizing that about herself. However, she could not see the significance of being beautiful in her life at that very moment. Beauty won’t be able to make her succeed as a seer in helping Lars. Also, beauty won’t save her and Justin from the murderer on the loose. “You always see beauty in others, Lars and that’s what I love about you.” She smiled through her blush.

Prudence knew the moment she said that he helped her more than she helped him that she would be rewarded by a list of things she had done for him. She just nodded at what he was saying until she heard something that surprised her. “I showed you that the world is a much better place?” Prudence had to ask before she burst in a fit of giggles. When the vision topic came up she just nodded and said. “Yes, finally. So far, I’ve got two real visions. My vision on your death is actually the first real vision I ever had.” She told him frankly. “And the voices in the morning had been reduced to whispers that are ignorable.” She added happily.

It was only when she handed the letter over to Alaric that she realized that the letter had been written with blood not ink. The wind blew and brought the smell of the old parchment and blood to Prudence’s sensitive nose. The smell of blood made her sick to her stomach and she had to control the urge to vomit. Prudence forgot her queasy feeling when she saw Alaric fall off his chair. He seemed to have had a flashback or something of the sort, most probably the skill he got from his mother. Prudence got off from her chair and only realized that it was a bad idea when the ground beneath her feet tilted slightly, making her lost her balance. She ended up sitting next to a very tired Alaric. “Are you alright? What happened?” Prudence asked, needing to know whatever it was he saw. She had an idea as to who sent the owl but a confirmation would be nice.

[alariclarsstouner]

Lars merely laughed at what she said. It was pure truth though. He was really the type who could still see everyone’s good points, despite having things such as a flawed past or a screwed up life. “Well, what I just said is all truth though, don’t worry about that,” he then said to her. However, something tells him that maybe Prue was thinking that possessing such physical beauty is utterly useless. “You know, I’m not merely talking about physical beauty in general. In addition to your stunning beauty, you also possess a kind heart, ready to help poor, needy souls like me,” he then added, as he downed his mocktail in one gulp.

As Prue recounted her visions to him once more, he then felt that he was already starting to give her an unnecessary burden. Indeed, he would have gone off and tried to find out for himself what the death prophecy meant and he had to admit that Prue did a splendid job of helping him, despite being totally new to the wonders of being a seer. However, he felt a lot of guilt when she started to experience the side effects of using her powers. “You know, maybe you should take it easy. I can try to figure it out for myself, after all I still have some tricks up in my sleeve,” he then said with an apologetic tone on his voice. He just didn’t like the fact that she was burdened at her expense. Plus, he also had his own ability, his being someone who could touch objects and see past events.

Lars did not know that he would actually make use of this ability of his that very same night. When he touched the letter that was meant for Prue, he saw a swirl of lights and sounds that was deeply unnatural. Come to think of it, it had been months since he last used this ability, with the last known time he used it was when he threatened Prue that he would use it on the potion vial. Another vital thing he found out that it was written using human blood. That made him all the more uneasy. When he finally woke up from his trance, he gasped for air and sat down. He then saw a worried looking Prue watching him. He placed his hand on his forehead and said, “I saw a small cabin in the middle of the mountains, a man in his early thirties laughing while cutting his skin and using the blood to write the letter. He then ties it on the owl and he was laughing or swearing as the owl took flight, I really couldn’t tell.” He just didn’t know why he saw such a horrifying vision at that moment. All he knew that it was really unpleasant.

[Prudence Campbell]

Prudence just smiled at Alaric. He really was a beautiful, both inside and out. He was prophesized to die as a hero and yet he had been a good friend to her every since the night they met. Normally a person with a prophesized death would not have time to think of other people’s welfare, but here he was, showing his concern for her by going extra lengths to help her with her new ability. He even had the time to contemplate enough to say that he loved her… As she stared at him, she could not help but notice how sincere he looked, and just like that, Prudence believed him. She smiled at him and simply said. “Thank you Lars.” Once again, she found herself wondering why she could not bring herself to say yes to him. “The harder you fall the more it will hurt.” She absently answered herself, staring at nothing in particular.

“Don’t worry about me, Lars. Worry about yourself. Focus on trying to figure out a way to ensure the failure of the prophecy.” Prudence sipped her planter’s punch and stared at him. The Ravenclaw felt the need to reassure him. “I don’t make too much effort to get visions. They come to me naturally and I can’t control them. I can, however, try to get a vision in some places with strong psychic energy… like knockturn alley.” She added, sounding very reassuring.

Prudence bit her lip as she continued to eye him worriedly and gently helped him up when he decided to sit down. Her heart stopped beating and she felt all color she had on her face drain upon hearing the details of Alaric’s flashback. She was quite sure about the identity of the sender before he even spoke, however, hearing him describe the sender so accurately sent shivers down her spine. She snatched the letter from Alaric’s hand before he had the chance to read it. Suddenly, she felt like it wasn’t a good idea for him to know about this notorious man. But, after what he just saw, she knew he would start asking questions sooner rather than later. She sighed… a girl could hope. “Try to calm down. Breath deeply. Do it slowly.” She told him in the most soothing voice she could muster.

[alariclarsstouner]

Lars merely fixed his gaze at her, his eyes locking with hers. He just did not know why Prue would not answer his feelings for her. He knew that she was indeed afraid of experiencing the feeling of being in love but something was telling him there might be other reasons. He then heard her utter a sentence and that actually made him think of the answer. She might be afraid that if ever the prophecy would come true and if he dies, then it would be like breaking her heart also. However, he decided to just keep silent about his assumption. I just don’t understand how can it get so complicated, he then thought to himself. “You know, maybe you should forget that I confessed to you or something. Maybe that would even things out,” he then said.

He then nodded as listened to her tell him about her ability. Indeed, Prue has already figured out her way regarding her gift as a seer. “And it only seems like a couple of months ago when you first found out about your ability. I can’t help but be impressed on how much you have known regarding being a seer,” he then commented, smiling at her. “Yeah well…Knockturn Alley sure gives me the creeps. I just couldn’t bring myself to walk there casually,” he then added when he heard that it was one of the places with strong psychic energy. He could not but nod when she said that he had to focus in ensuring that the prophecy about him would be falsified. After all, this was the primary reason he worked with her in the first place.

Lars simply could not forget what he had just seen. It was simply so unpleasant that he felt like banging his head on the wall just so that he would forget everything he saw. However, he could not help but wonder why of all visions he could get with that letter, why that kind of scary vision surfaced? He then observed Prue’s expression and she seemed so deathly pale. It may probably due to the fact that he fainted but something tells him that it was more than just that. And when she actually snatched the letter away from him, his worst suspicions were confirmed. That man had a lot to do with her. He started breathing according to Prue’s instructions, trying to calm himself down. He already had a million questions running through his head at that point and he was sure that Prue wouldn’t be very enthusiastic in answering it.

[Prudence Campbell]

“I just read books on seers and ask my parents about it. I can’t believe how much information I have now… it’s just been two months.” Prudence simply said when he said he was impressed with her progress. Prudence nodded in agreement. “Remember when I said before that I went there to get a vision for you? I was not walking there casually. I ended up there because I was walking absently… and I did not even get a vision.” She said, trying to clarify that she did not find walking in Knockturn Alley fun at all, sounding quite sulky.

Prudence sighed in relieve as she watched him calm down. What he saw was probably as unpleasant as her second vision. She shivered as she remembered it and shoved it out of her head immediately. As she observed Alaric, she tried to calm herself down too. When he fell of his chair, she thought he had some sort of a life threatening attack… Prudence returned to her seat and sat in silence, thanking Merlin for every second that was not consumed by Alaric’s questions. She was well aware that he would soon start asking questions, especially now that she snatched the letter from his hand. She sighed, snatching it away seemed like a horrible idea all of a sudden.

Prudence had been realizing how much her fear was getting a hold of her life. It sheltered her and prevented her from falling in love ever since it started. Since last week she had been trying to search herself and kept on asking herself the question: Where did this fear originated? And it was only then that she realized that it all started when Melinda died. She greeted her happy birthday and told her she loved her and then she died. The night her grandmother died, she also told her she loved her. These realizations did not shatter her protective walls. It made it even stronger. It really hurt when the two people she loved died so much that she had been afraid to say the words ‘I love you’ ever since. Also, their deaths thought her that every ‘hello’ ended with a ‘goodbye’ and she subconsciously built walls to protect her heart. Prudence suddenly remembered every good time she had with him, every good deed he did for her, the way he boldly confessed his love for her, and as she eyed beautiful Alaric, realized that he was worth it… worth risking her protected heart for she knew he would catch him and would not let her break… until he broke her right then and there by boldly taking back his words. Prudence’s gaze suddenly focused on him, her expression unreadable. She opened and closed her mouth before finally saying, “Consider it forgotten.” Prudence lowered her gaze, feeling her heart break on her for the first time since her grandmother died. That day, she realized that people did not have to die to break her heart…

[alariclarsstouner]

Lars merely nodded in understanding as Prue was being sulky about the fact that it seemed like he was thinking that she literally just took a casual walk down Knockturn Alley. “There, there, just relax. I didn’t think of that at all,” he then said, flashing a reassuring smile at her. “I guess you may have been too preoccupied all of a sudden or something. Well it happens sometimes,” he added hastily. He then agreed to what she had said about how much information she already had as a seer. “That is indeed a good thing, for you are using it to help others,” he replied.

He then gazed upon her face, and his mouth was about to open for he wanted to utter the oh so many questions running through his head. What was the reason why she snatched the letter from him? Who was that man and how was she related to him? These were some of the most pressing questions he could think of. But he knew better than to press her with questions because he knew that she would not have the heart to answer them. He just stared into her in silence, thinking hard. Suddenly, something made sense. The man was not really as old as he thought…he looked as if he was in only his early twenties. Why the vision did suddenly made sense?

Lars did not know why as he gazed into her eyes, he could feel that her resolve began to waver. It seemed that she was ready to bring down the walls that had once protectively sheltered her heart. He then wondered once again why she even had to do so. After all, he could not blame her for feeling like that; it was indeed hard to lose the people you value the most…now, he finally understood. He had been an idiot in telling her to forget that he actually confessed to her. No! You cannot just give up now! What happened to your resolve that you will wait no matter how long it takes? his mind was literally screaming right at him. It was then he knew what to do.

He gently put his arms around her and enveloped her into a hug. “I’m sorry. I was stupid in saying those words earlier. I realized that I have waited for so long for your answer to me that I should not give up now,” he then said softly, remembering the times he was moping, how he became so sad and frustrated. Yet he patiently bore them, for he knew that she would come around. “You won't find faith or hope down a telescope or find heart and soul in the stars. You can break everything down to the chemicals but you can't explain a love like ours. What am I supposed to do when the best part of me was always you?” he then told her, fighting hard to control his tears from falling. “I have said it before and I will say it again: I love you very much and even though I’ve failed for the first try, I’ll still be waiting, even if it takes me days, months or even years. I am willing to defy everything, even death so I can be with you.” He knew that he had to pour out his feelings for her because at that point, he has never been so sure in his whole life.

*Lyrics taken from Breakeven and Science and Faith by The Script

[Prudence Campbell]

Prudence frowned a little when he obviously found the need to clarify that he wasn’t thinking that she found walking in the Knockturn Alley relaxing. “I wasn’t talking about that, Lars. I just can’t believe that after witnessing a m- After everything… I mean I already walked in that dark alleyand nothing happened.” Prudence sighed, apparently dealing with a vision was just as hard as trying to get a vision. “I’m helping others now and I will continue helping others in the future. I’ve made that my life’s purpose two days after finding out about my ability.” Prudence said in a matter of fact tone, smiling at her Ravenclaw friend.

Prudence tried to brace herself for questioning she knew would come sooner rather than later. She did not need to be a psychic to know this. Judging by the look on Alaric’s face, she knew that his mind was already formulating questions and no doubt all of them had something to do with the sender of the owl she just had the misfortune of receiving. As time went by, her apprehension increased for she still could not gauge if telling Alaric the truth would be good for him. The last thing Prudence needed now was him getting into the mess that she and Justin got themselves into.

The realization that people did not have to die to break her heart almost hurt as much as Alaric’s words. She could not believe she allowed herself to bring down the walls she created for herself for years by then just to get close to someone who obviously did not value her enough to not toy with her and her fragile feelings. The fact that it had not even been seconds after her new resolve that she got her heart broken, altered Prudence views on love. Her cousin Melinda and her grandmother died, Prudence knew that it was not their choice and that they did not perish just to hurt her; and yet, Prudence made a wall to protect her self because of them. Alaric’s case was different, he knew her fear of love and yet he purposely hurt her. He knew better than to say he loved her when he was apparently very unsure of his feelings. His acting had been so convincing last week and now Prudence could not believe she had let him get through her. As her heart broke, her walls wrapped around her heart, securing it more than ever.

Prudence let herself be enveloped by his arms and she leaned on him, unmoving and feeling numb. As she listened to his explanation, Prudence surprised herself at how unfeeling she sounded when she curtly replied. “Yeah, that must have been so hard. You’ve been waiting for a week.” It was not until after hearing what he had to say for himself and feeling her hair catch a number of Alaric’s tears that she herself started crying and finally looked at him. No one had ever expressed that much love for her in her whole life and to say that Prudence was touched immensely by his words would be putting it lightly. However no one ever hurt her like he just did. This made her realize how much she loved him indeed. “Ever since Melinda and my grandmother died, I never told anyone I that I loved them. Their deaths wounded me beyond recovery. I realized I can't set my hopes too high, 'because every hello ends with a goodbye. I learned to protect myself. So now you see why I'm scared I can't open up my heart without a care. ” She finally said after a few moments of silence, trying to make him understand. “I don’t know, Lars. I almost opened up to you… but after hearing you taking back your words... It hurt so much. I just can’t bring myself to tell you that I love you, even though I think I do.” She said, looking him in the eyes before burying her face on his chest.

Lyrics Taken from Demi Lovato's Catch Me

[alariclarsstouner]

Lars just smiled when Prue mentioned that she had already made it her life’s purpose to help people through her ability. “Well, I do wish you luck for your endeavors. It’s really a noble thing to do. If only I would be able to utilize my abilities more, I would have done the same,” he said, flashing her a brilliant smile. He then noticed that she seemed apprehensive about something. “Is something wrong? You seemed uneasy,” he then asked, looking concerned. The truth is, Lars already knew that Prue was definitely hiding something from him and for some reason; he just could not bring himself to ask what it is. He realized that if she really wanted him to know, she would tell it to him right there and then. He then decided to just keep quiet about it, although the questions in his mind were bothering him a lot. “That’s definitely a weird letter, if you ask me,” he commented, looking at the letter on her hand. “I mean that owl would have just dropped it gently or something, I guess it was still pretty much untrained,” he then added for good measure.

As he was hugging her, he felt like he was holding someone very fragile, as though she might break at any moment. He knew that what he said earlier was the very reason why she was hurting; however he now confirmed how much she loved him indeed. He felt ashamed on himself for uttering those hurtful words and he realized that he had to say them in such a wrong time. He just hugged her tightly, never letting go. All he knew right there and then was that he was definitely sure of his feelings for her and he already made his life promise that he would always be there to catch her and to never hurt her. Then how come you have to hurt her with such words then? a voice asked in his mind. Truth is, Lars never came up with a concrete rationale on why he had to say that.

He then felt her tears on him and when he heard what she had to say that he finally realized for himself how stupid he was for having to say them. When she finally uttered those confusing words that she just could not bring herself to say that she loved him even though she felt otherwise, Lars felt like a thousand needles pierced through his heart. He knew how hard it was for her to say them and he felt like he had heard the most precious song ever. And when she buried her face on his chest, he could feel her confusion regarding her feelings for him. He then placed his right hand on the back of her head, gently holding her closer to him. Now he finally understood everything. They remained like that for a few minutes before Lars finally decided to break the silence. “All I could say is that I never knew why I uttered those hurtful words. Maybe I became impatient in waiting or maybe I think the action alone was hard on your part, for you were scared. However, I want to tell you this: I’ll risk it all because I will catch you if you fall, wherever you go, if my heart was a house, you’d be home,” Lars said softly to her. “I thought I could deceive myself that you would always just see me as a friend and that I have to wake up. Now I realized that never in my life have I been more sure of my feelings for you. And all I long for was for the day that you would share your world with me someday,” he added, as he stroked her hair and realized that his emotions were definitely taking a toll on him.

*Lyrics taken from Owl City's If my Heart was a House.

[Prudence Campbell]

Prudence smiled up at him. He was really a diamond in the rough. Most people would just keep their talents to themselves or just go around the world and not even think of helping anyone with their gift. As she kept her eyes locked on his face, she realized just how similar were their status right now. She might not have a seer prophesize her death for her but she had seen herself die one too many times whenever Peter the ripper invades her nightmares almost every night. He must have sensed her anxiety and Prue cursed herself inside for being a big sucker at keeping her feelings away from her face. “Everything’s fine. You are alive. I’m alive. What more could I ask for?” Prudence reassured him, managing a smile that did not quite reach her eyes. Prudence nodded to show that she agreed with his comment. “It’s either that or the sender is just too barbaric to train his owl.” Prudence blurted out. On the outside, she seemed annoyed but on the inside she feared that there were more death threats and scary letters coming from the same sender and soon the next would land on her head until the day she layed peacefully six feet below the ground.

As she kept her face on his chest, she realized even more how much she loved him. Her concern for his safety and in saving his life had always been too great to be considered as one’s concern for a friend. Prudence felt so dumb to have not seen this all before. After all those years of being careful with her heart by closing it up, she found herself just as careful with her feelings as an impulsive teenager who feel in love at first sight and dated left and right. The young Ravenclaw started blaming it all on herself. Yes, Alaric might have been a player but it was her fault she got toyed by him. She allowed him and she knew it; for, if she hadn’t, all this would not have happened. Alaric and she would probably be just laughing, talking and drinking through the night.

After being honest with him by trying to explain her feelings, she was halfway through her new resolve to not love him for it hurt too much already. When he spoke, Prudence wished he hadn’t opened his mouth at all. It would have been easier for her to tell him right then and there that the two of them would never be together; and, that Alaric should go toy with other girls’ hearts if he just told her he played with her and he was not sorry at all. As she looked at Alaric in the eyes, she could feel his sincerity and the truthfulness of his words; and, whatever new resolve she had moments ago dissolved into nothing. However, just as she was about to tell him she loved him back, she realized how much danger she would subject him into when they became together. We can’t… She decided. At least not until the death prophecy failed and not until Peter the ripper was detained in a prison cell capable of containing him until the end of his days. Then, she started choosing her words. There was: You stole my happy. You made me cry. You had my heart. I want it back for I’m starting to see everything you lack. Alaric, you blew it. You put me through it and now I want nothing to do with you. and there was an alternative that sounded so much better. Why put hurt Alaric when she can tell him the truth about it all?

“Maybe I know, somewhere deep in my soul, that love never lasts. And, we've got to find other ways to make it alone or keep a straight face. I always keep a comfortable distance and up until now I had sworn to myself that I'm content with loneliness. But then, you came and became the only exception.” Prudence, once again, bared her soul to him and followed her intuition. Apparently her intuition did not want her to reveal the danger that lay ahead of her so she stayed quiet about the murderer. As she looked at him, she wondered where the two of them would stand after that night. At that moment, she was only sure of one thing, she could not let him be involved with the situation Justin and she were currently into, no matter what happened.

Sources: Carrie Underwood's Undo it && Paramore's Only Exception